Switch construction



April 24, 1928.

1,666,925 R. B. BENJAMIN ET AL SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV- 5. 1923 l2 SheetS--Sllefzl l April 24, 1928.

1,666,925 R. B. BENJAMIN ET AL SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 5, 1923 2Sheets--Shesv 2 recesses a pair of switch mechanisms 13 and 14v 50tending Patented Apr. 24, 1928'.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUEEN EjEENJAMIN, or CHICAGO, AND CHESTER E, WARNER, or EERWYN, ILLI-NoIs, AssIGNoRs "ro BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MEG. Co., oE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Application' n led November Our invention relates to switchconstruction.- l Y One of the objects of our invention is to provide aconstruction in which improved 5 means are provided for giving a kickoff to the switch arm after the'spring has been moved past its deadcenter position. s A further object of lour invention isvto provide adouble switch construction which l will contain few parts and will becompact 15 ous breaks in series between the switch terminals.l

Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

In the drawings in which an embodiment '80 of our invention is 'shown-Fi ure 1 is a perspective View of a double switc construction;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the switch;

Fig.3 isa section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 'l '26 Fig. 4 is a. sectionalview showing one of thei switch mechanisms 'in on position;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but show ing the switch moved to offposition;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of ig. 7 is a perspective view of agearing member;

Fig. 911s a perspective view of the oscil` latable bridging member.

Thel switch construction shown is -designed for use in panel board -workfor controlling the branch circuits although it may 4.0 obviously beused for other purposes.

. lReferring now to the fdrawin s in detail,

the double switch construction s own therein comprises a substantiallyrectangular insulating housing and supporting. member 45 10, having aflat upper face and a pair of 11 and Y12, in its lower surface, and

housedin said recesses respectively, and having operating switch levers15 and 16 exabove said insulating membler for operation.

The insulating member l10 is mounted on i four metal stampings, 17, 18,l19 and 20, by

5, 1923. Serial No. 672,755.

which it is secured to any suitable support such as a panel board (notshown). Each of these stanipings is provided with an integral switchcontact portion 21 and an iiitegral switch terminal portion 22.

The switch mechanism 13 comprises means for effecting four simultaneousbreaks in series between the pair of switch terminals at the-left handend ot the insulating member `10, and the switch mechanism 14 com-;prises means for eiiecting four simultaneous breaks in series betweenthe pair of switch terminals at the right hand end of the insulatingmember.

The construction of the switch mechanisms 13 'and 14` is similar lsothat a description of one will suice for both. Each of these switchmechanisms comprises a metal stamping 23, having a pair of integralswitch contact portions 24 and 25 and an oscillatable bridging member 26`for simultaneously breaking the circuit at the ourjassociated contacts21, 21, 24 and 25.

This oscillatable bridging member, as shown lin Fig. 9, comprises a pairof insulating fibrer plates or discs 27 and 28, two pairs of bridgingconduct-ing strips 29, one pair secured to each of said insulatingplates, and a sheet metal connecting member `for securing the twoinsulating plates 27 and 28' together. .This metal connecting member 30not only serves to hold the insulating plates together, but also servesas an anchorage for one end of the lcoil tension sprin 31, 'the otherend of which spring is secure to a sheet metal member 32 carried by theoperating handle 15.

For, mounting the bridging member for oscillating movement a pair ofbearing members 33 and 34 are provided, each having an integral pintleportion 35, which extends into the eyelet 36, which serves to hold the'bridging strips 29 on the insulating plate;

The bearingmembers 33 and`34 are secured on the insulating member 10 inany suitable manner as by screws 37.

The operating handle 16 is oscillatably mounted on the insulating memberl0 by 26, but also serves to hold the bearing pin for the bridgingmember after the tensionv 38in place at the bottom of the bearing igrooves.

v To properlysecure the metal connecting member 30 to the insulatingplates 27 and 28, a pair ot' elongated metal washer members 4l and 42are provided, the metal connecting member having' a plurality of inte,-

gral rivet portions 43 which extend through the insulating plates andthe ends of which are `riveted vover on the metal washers.

In -order to provide a positive kick oli1 spring has been moved past thedead center, the metal member 32is provided with a pair of push iingers44 and 45, one on each side' of the transmission spring 3l andengageable with the spring. As shown iii Fig. 4,

one of these push oii' iingers will engage to move promptly, the pushoif tinger'44 engages the transmission spring 3l soon after it haspassed the dead center and gives a positive kick off to the bridgingmember whereupon the transmission spring quickly snaps the bridgingdmember to off position. I

As show ny in Fig. 4theslia-pe of the contact portion of the bridgingstrip 29 is vsuch lthat theeXtreme end or tip of the .strip is the last'to break contact with the stationary -contact 25.-# l jl Thisconstruction minimizes arcing,as the tip is the part which has thequickest movement. f'

The insulating base i0 is provided wail.

an angular portion` having incline stop shoulders 46 and 47 positionedto engage the insulating discs 27 and 28 to limit the throw of theswitch blades `29 and thus protect them 'from damage. I (i While we haveshowin but#V one vembodiment of our inventionit isv obvious that it maye .covered in other forms'covered and defined by the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what. weclaim as new and desire tosecure byl Letters Patent of the United States is:

v `l. A switch construction comprising a pivoted oscillatable switcharm, a contact with which the switch arm. is engageable and s means' foroscillating said switch arm, comprising aipivoted Y oscillatableactuating.

member, a coil tension spring connecting switch arm from said contact,yafter the spring has passed the dead center. y 2. A switch constructioncomprising a pivoted oscillatable switch arm, a contact with Vwhich theswitchfarm is engageabie and means for oscillating said switch arm,comprising a pivoted oscillatable actuating niember, a coil tensionspring connecting said switch arni and oscillatable member and a pair ofpush fingers carried by said oscillatable member andembraciiig saidspring and engageable therewith to give said switch arm a push'aftei thespring has passed a dead center.

3. A` double switch construction comprising aniiisiilating housing andsupporting member, four stampings, each stamping comprising a standardfor supporting said 'insulating Imember, a switch contact, and aterminal, two switch mechanisms mounted von said insulatingmember andhoused thereby,- each switch mechanism comprising a pair `of contactselectrically connectedrwith each other and-means for simultaneouslybreaking the circuit at the cbntacts of said air vand at two of thecontacts of said'stampmg, whereby eachswitch mechanism effects four.breaks in series.

4. A double switch construction compris- -l ing an insulating housingand supporting T00 member, four stampings, each stamping comprising astandardtfor supporting said insulating member, a switch contact, and aterminal, two switch mechanisms 'mountedl on said insulating member andhoused thereby, each switch mechanism comprising. a

paiiof contacts electrically connected with each other ,and means foreii'ecting `i'our simultaneous breaks at vthe contacts of said pair andtwo of the contacts of said stamp- .ing comprising a pair'ofoscillataliie conducting bridging members engageab e and disengageablewith respect to said contacts. 5. double'switchl construction compris-ring Aa rectangular insulating supporting and housing member, having asubstantially flat face and a pairY of recesses in its under surface, apair of switch mechanisms housed by said member Ain said recessesrespectively, each mechanism having an operating inem-- ber accessiblefor operation above said insu! lating member, a pair of switch contactsadjacent one endy of said base, the circit be'- tween whichis'controlledby one,` of said switch mechanisms, a pair of switchterminals. electrically connected with said contacts respectively, asecond pair of` switch contacts adgacent theothervend of said insulatingmember, the circuit" between which is controlled by the iother switchmechanism, and a secondi` pair of switch terminalsl electri-Y iio callyconnected with said second pair'of contacts respectively.

6. A double switch mechanism comprising an insulating housing andsupporting member having a substantially fiat ace and a pair of recessesin its under surface, a pair of switch mechanisms lhoused by said mem-vat alllfour of said contacts to eiect four .breaks in series betweensaid pair of switch terminals, a third pair of switch contacts adjacentthe other end of 'said insulatin member, a second pair of switch terminas elec-l trically connected with said third pair of contactsrespectively, and a fourth pair oi switch contacts adjacent the middleportion of said insulating member, the other switch mechanism serving tosimultaneously break the circuit at said third and fourth pairs ofcontacts respectively, to elect fourk breaks in series between saidsecond pair ofv switch terminals. r i

7. A switch construction comprising a pivoted oscillatable switch arm,a. contact with which the switch arm is engageable and means foroscillating said switch arm, comprising an actuating member movable backand forth, a coil tension spring connecting said switch arm andactuating member and a push member carried by said actuating member orengaging said spring to free said switch arm from said'contact, afterthe spring has passed the dead-center. In witness whereof, we havehereunto subscribed our names. Y

EEUBEN B. BENJAMIN.- CHESTER E. WARNEE.

